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Fateful Triangle: The United States, Israel, and the Palestinians (Updated Edition) (South End Press Classics Series) Paperback – April 1, 1999

by Noam Chomsky (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars 153 ratings
Contents

Foreword by Edward W. Said
Preface to the Updated Edition
1. Fanning the Flames
2. The Origins of the "Special Relationship"
3. Rejectionism and Accommodation
4. Isreal and Palestine: Historical Backgrounds
5. Peace for Galilee
6. Aftermath
7. The Road to Armageddon
8. The Palestinian Uprising
9. "Limited War" in Lebanon
10. Washington's "Peace Process"
Index

An Excerpt from Fateful Triangle, Updated Edition

For some time, I've been compelled to arrange speaking engagements long in advance. Sometimes a title is requested for a talk scheduled several years ahead. There is, I've found, one title that always works: "The current crisis in the Middle East." One can't predict exactly what the crisis will be far down the road, but that there will be one is a fairly safe prediction.

That will continue to be the case as long as basic problems of the region are not addressed.

Furthermore, the crises will be serious in what President Eisenhower called "the most strategically important area in the world." In the early post-War years, the United States in effect extended the Monroe Doctrine to the Middle East, barring any interference apart from Britain, assumed to be a loyal dependency and quickly punished when it occasionally got out of hand (as in 1956). The strategic importance of the region lies primarily in its immense petroleum reserves and the global power accorded by control over them; and, crucially, from the huge profits that flow to the Anglo-American rulers, which have been of critical importance for their economies. It has been necessary to ensure that this enormous wealth flows primarily to the West, not to the people of the region. That is one fundamental problem that will continue to cause unrest and disorder. Another is the Israel-Arab conflict with its many ramifications, which have been closely related to the major U.S. strategic goal of dominating the region's resources and wealth.

For many years, it was claimed the core problem was Soviet subversion and expansionism, the reflexive justification for virtually all policies since the Bolshevik takeover in Russia in 1917. That pretext having

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  1. Part of series
    Chomsky Perspectives
  2. Print length
    600 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    South End Press
  5. Publication date
    April 1, 1999
  6. Dimensions
    5.9 x 1.2 x 9 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0896086011
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0896086012
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

First published in 1983, Fateful Triangle is a comprehensive indictment of what Noam Chomsky calls the "disgraceful and extremely dangerous" policy the United States has enacted towards Israel, particularly with regard to Israel's actions concerning the Palestinians. Supporters of Israel must willfully overlook or deny that nation's long history of human rights violations and military aggression, Chomsky writes, and they will continue to do so as long as Israel is strategically useful towards "the U.S. aim of eliminating possible threats, largely indigenous, to American domination of the Middle East region." In the course of elaborating his argument, Chomsky cuts through the myths and distortions that appear in mainstream media accounts; the damning facts that he so systematically assembles portray a government more brutally and overtly racist, perhaps, than even apartheid-era South Africa. Three new chapters, drawing upon material from Z magazine and other publications, incorporate such developments as the Palestinian uprising, Israel's war on Lebanon, and the ongoing "peace process."

Review

There is something deeply moving about a mind of such noble ideals repeatedly stirred on behalf of human suffering and injustice. -- Edward W. Said, from the new foreword

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ South End Press; Revised edition (April 1, 1999)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 600 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0896086011
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0896086012
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.75 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.9 x 1.2 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 153 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Noam Chomsky

    Noam Chomsky

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    Avram Noam Chomsky (/ˈnoʊm ˈtʃɒmski/; born December 7, 1928) is an American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, historian, logician, social critic, and political activist. Sometimes described as "the father of modern linguistics", Chomsky is also a major figure in analytic philosophy, and one of the founders of the field of cognitive science. He has spent more than half a century at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he is Institute Professor Emeritus, and is the author of over 100 books on topics such as linguistics, war, politics, and mass media. Ideologically, he aligns with anarcho-syndicalism and libertarian socialism.

    Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Photo by https://www.flickr.com/photos/culturaargentina [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Edward W. Said

    Edward W. Said

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Edward W. Said was University Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Royal Society of Literature and of Kings College Cambridge, his celebrated works include Orientalism, The End of the Peace Process, Power, Politics and Culture, and the memoir Out of Place. He is also the editor, with Christopher Hitchens, of Blaming the Victims, published by Verso. He died in September 2003.

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
153 global ratings

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Customers find this book to be an important resource about the Middle East, with one review noting it's loaded with carefully selected facts. The book receives positive feedback for its readability and historical content.

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5 customers mention "Encyclopedia content"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's encyclopedic content, describing it as an important resource about the Middle East that is well-documented and meticulously researched.

"...Of all those writers, Professor Noam Chomsky is the most prolific, meticulous, detailed and most importantly, accurate...." Read more

"...Thoroughly documented with evidence and facts particularly about Israel's 1982 invasion and military occupation of Lebanon which caused the death of..." Read more

"A classic Chomsky polemic, loaded with facts carefully selected to make the point that Israel is an aggressive, racist state, as indeed it is." Read more

"...You will find excellent resources for further study and consideration, including updated discussion covering recent developments in the Israeli-..." Read more

4 customers mention "Readability"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable, with one describing it as a must-read.

"...you ultimately land on this debate, the book is well-documented and useful." Read more

"Rather long, but very worthwhile." Read more

"It was very interesting to read such a different perspective on the middle east. I would read another book by Norm Chomsky" Read more

"A must read for anyone interested in learning about the roots of the Middle East conflict...." Read more

3 customers mention "History"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the historical content of the book, with one noting it reflects the best tradition of the Jewish people.

"...The book is also full of history, such as the cause of the 1973 war, the 1979 Camp David Accords, the very founding of the Israeli state, etc...." Read more

"...a brave and honourable jewish/american academic, in the best tradition of the jewish people, who believes in human rights and has the courage to..." Read more

"Excellent history of the "conflict" and just as timely today as it was in 1983...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Beth L. Dabit
    5.0 out of 5 stars Naum Chompsky is a national hero
    Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2025
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    Love to read anything by this intellectual!!
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  • Anton Batey
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books on the Middle East
    Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2010
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    Ever since September 11th, I have considered the Israeli-Palestinian conflict perhaps the most important foreign policy issue in the world. I essentially collect books on the issue, ranging from Chomsky, Finkelstein and Benny Morris to Alan Dershowitz, Joan Peters, those who have worked in the Israeli government, like Abba Eban, Shimon Peres, Moshe Dayan, etc. Of all those writers, Professor Noam Chomsky is the most prolific, meticulous, detailed and most importantly, accurate.

    I have gotten into literally hundreds of debates on issue, with all of them ending in the same two ways. Either,

    a) I'm an anti-Semite who just HATES Jewish people, or
    b) The religious argument, that "God gave the land to the Jews, therefore, no matter what you say, my God is right and you're wrong".

    Professor Chomsky pretty much refutes Argument A to death. It's extremely weak and by either saying those who criticize Israel as being either "anti-Semitic" or being a "self-hating Jew" is like calling someone racist because they don't believe in affirmative action, or anti-Germanic because they may not have supported the Nazi régime. It's a way to have all their bases covered. If those who criticize Israel are anti-Semitic, they would make them vehemently anti-Arabic.

    Chomsky also points out that those "defending" Israel are actually putting Israel I more danger by supporting such policies. Israel would be much, much safer if they would simply adhere to international law and the various UN Security Resolutions and General Assembly Resolutions calling for an end to occupying territory and implementing a two-state solution, giving the Gaza Strip and West Bank genuine, true independence.

    The book is also full of history, such as the cause of the 1973 war, the 1979 Camp David Accords, the very founding of the Israeli state, etc.

    I couldn't put the book down. It's about 400 + pages and I finished it in 2 or 3 days.
    45 people found this helpful
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  • Anthony J. Geha Yuja
    5.0 out of 5 stars Israel's State Terror in Palestine and Lebanon
    Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2002
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    This is one of the most disturbing and compelling indictments of Israel's apartheid policies and terror tactics (supported by the US Government) not only against its captive overpowered palestinian victims in the occupied teritories but also against Lebanon its peaceful and once prosperous neighbour to the north.

    Thoroughly documented with evidence and facts particularly about Israel's 1982 invasion and military occupation of Lebanon which caused the death of more than 20000 people mostly civilians, produced the Sabra and Chatila massacre and which lasted for 18 years. Most of Chomsky's sources are authoritative and honest israeli and american government, military and media representatives.

    Noam Chomsky is a brave and honourable jewish/american academic, in the best tradition of the jewish people, who believes in human rights and has the courage to say the hidden historical truth as it is, contrary to its constant travesty witnessed on a daily basis in the western mainstream media.

    Regretfully, most of this media is now owned/controlled by a few conglomerates and dominated/manipulated by the pro-israel, pro-war lobbies who will go to any length to distort history and facts hollywood style in favor of Israel's version of events, i.e transforming the victim into the aggressor and vice versa!

    A must reading for anyone interested in learning the true story of what has been happening in the Holy Lands and why .
    219 people found this helpful
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  • Noreen A. Thompsen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Chomsky is a master at explaining the history of US complicity in a sham "peace process"
    Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2012
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    Excellent history of the "conflict" and just as timely today as it was in 1983. The patterns of agression are the same (provoke then claim "defense" when they (Israel) unleash their far superior weaponry on a largely civilian, mostly 1948 Palestinian refugee population). He also rightly recognizes that the real goal in the attacks on Lebanon was to neutralize the possibility of the emergence of a more moderate Palestinian Authority which would then set the stage for a real autonomous two state solution. Chomsky either had a crystal ball, membership in the "Psychic Friends Network" or made one heck of an educated guess that the "peace process" was a sham and the Israeli government's goal all along has been annexation of the assets of the occupied territories without the bother of having to offer equal rights and justice to the pesky Palestinians who reside there. If more Americans read this book there would be a groundswell of demand that our government revise it's foreign policy in the region and use the annual $3.1 billion (Israel) and $1.5 billion (Egypt) spent on foreign military aid for domestic or humanitarian purposes or to help avert the "fiscal cliff".
    33 people found this helpful
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  • C. Strock
    4.0 out of 5 stars A fact-loaded polemic.
    Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2019
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    A classic Chomsky polemic, loaded with facts carefully selected to make the point that Israel is an aggressive, racist state, as indeed it is.
    16 people found this helpful
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  • W. Shane Schmidt
    5.0 out of 5 stars American especially should read this book
    Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2001
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    If you are comfortable with American foreign policy in the Middle East, this book offers a great opportunity to test your comfort. For some the most difficult part about reading something like this will be clearing their head of decades of US-Israeli bias in America's press and popular culture. Remind yourself that it really is ok to consider opposing views and then see for yourself if you still like the way the United States coddles and manipulates Israel's violent self-interest for its own gains.
    You will find excellent resources for further study and consideration, including updated discussion covering recent developments in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Sources are plentiful. Regardless of where you ultimately land on this debate, the book is well-documented and useful.
    195 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Alison
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must read
    Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2014
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    WOW. So revealing. A must read for anyone trying to understand the whys and hows of the current situation in Israel and the persecution/annihilation of the Palestinians.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Megan A
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for anyone interested in learning about the roots of the Middle East conflict.
    Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2014
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    One of the most important books about the Middle East.
    6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • sandra yvonne yehya
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable and at the same time full of thoughtful facts based firmly on evidence.,
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 12, 2024
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    As above, enjoyable read with every page filled with source-based facts.
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  • Amazon Customer
    2.0 out of 5 stars Two Stars
    Reviewed in India on October 11, 2017
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    The pages are yellowing and look old..
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  • Matt
    5.0 out of 5 stars Difficult read but worth the effort
    Reviewed in Canada on December 15, 2021
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    Noam is one of piercing intellects of our current times and this book does not disappoint. This is a masterful work that categorically challenges the American narrative of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is dense, complex, and filled with jargon that is likely to be unfamiliar to most readers. For the first 200 pages, I used my phone to reference locations, people, and definitions.

    The book really could use a map with the locations that Noam references...seems like an obvious win.

    This book is more like a textbook than a book in a lot of ways but is well worth the effort.
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  • Seg
    5.0 out of 5 stars History of the Palestine-Israel issue.
    Reviewed in France on February 29, 2024
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    Historical facts on the Israeli-Palestinian issue written by Noam Chomsky, an American Jew.
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  • john hertweck
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Australia on May 7, 2015
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    HYPOCRASSY ON THE PART OF JEWS.
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